Assignment 4 (May 25)

You should be working on chs 3 and 4 problems, and reading ahead to chs 5 and 6 on force.

Quiz 3 solutions should be posted, be looking at quiz 4. 

Reading quiz C in class on Wed. Sept. 14.  Know what is meant by "force", know Newtons laws, and what is caused by net force on an object.  Be able to use THE ONE IMPORTANT EQUATION in a simple plug'n chug manner. 

Be thinking ahead for the exam on the 23rd.  Content is chs 1-6 (most or some of ch. 6).  The longer problems will probably contain a problem on 1Dim motion, a problem on 2Dim motion, then a Force problem, then another Force problem.  I don't follow the book order precisely, We will have all of ch. 5 done. From ch. 6 we will probably not have circular motion or friction.  Will most likely have strings, tension, connected objects and Atwood. 

Some exam comments...(more may come later): I have changed the exam format slightly from what you see on the sample exams.   

You will receive a stapled set of pages (6 pages in all).  

The first five questions (short answer or multiple choice) will be on the first two pages.  There should be sufficient room on this page to show the work required for these problems.  You will be provided with scratch paper and also may use the back of any page.  With the exception of multiple choice questions, your grade is determined both by the answers provided and most importantly the work you show! These are 5 points each. 

Don't leave multiple choice blank.

Each of the next four problems (6,7,8,9) will be on its own page. You will select three of these four problems.  If there is not sufficient space on the front of each page, then continue on the back.   DO NOT HAND IN ADDITIONAL PAGES UNLESS YOU HAVE USED THE AVAILABLE SPACE ON THE EXAM.  If you have used front and back of the problem page, then you may continue work on additional paper, and staple it into the appropriate place.

YOU MUST SELECT WHICH THREE PROBLEMS I GRADE (from 6,7,8 or 9). I will grade the first three worked problems I come to if you do not indicate.  If you have worked on a problem but do not wish it graded, then place a large x through that entire page so I know not to grade it.  These problems are 25 points each.  I recommend looking at the problems and deciding what to work on.  Don't work all four since that takes extra time.

Each problem usually has several parts (a,b,c,d...etc  maybe longer or shorter).  Credit is divided equally between each part for a given problem. As you work each part you must place a label on the page indicating work for part a), b), etc. I need to be able to tell your work on part a from work on part b. (WORK TOP DOWN, CONTINUE ON THE BACK OF THE PAGE IF NEEDED).  You may not receive as much partial credit if I can't tell what part of a problem you are working on. 

It may (will) be useful in many problems to draw a rough sketch of the situation to help you set up the problem.  Physics problems can not be completed unless properly set up (using laws of physics).

You may need the answer to part a) in order to complete part b).  If you do not have the answer then try to outline the method....." do this to the number from part a)".   If you carry through an error, I still give partial credit (maybe not full) on other parts for correct method.  

In general while solving a problem write out the information you are given, write a symbol for what you are finding (use the symbols we use in class for a quantity, do not create your own new symbols), do the physics, then the algebra.  NOW REPORT THE ANSWER.  I have/WILL discussed this in class.  symbol=number units (Like F=10N). Failure to provide the answer in this format may result in 1 or 2 points off for each answer!!!!!!!!! That adds up. 

 You never will need the results of c or d to do part a or b, so don't do your work that way.  Complete part a,  then move on to part b 

Do not skip any portion of the exam.  Partial credit adds up. 

 If you have a question about what the problem is asking for during the exam, please feel free to quietly discuss it with me.  I do not want to "Hide" questions from you.  I won't give you the answers, but I will try to explain the question. 

Grading:  for a problem part that is worth say 5 points.  I take off 1 or 2 points for minor physics or algebra errors but essentially correct physics and reporting.  I take off ~3 points for a more serious physics error.  4 points will be taken off if there is little material relevant to solving the problem.  I generally give at least a point or two for writing the given information down, and for recognizing what you are looking for.

You should be practiced on solving problems on your own.  Assumption is that you are working on approx. at least several problems every day.